GOATS DEFENDER ZAREK VALENTIN RECIVES CALL UP
 
Valentin will join U-23 Men’s National Team Camp in Germany
 
Carson, CA. (Thursday, November 3, 2011) – Chivas USA announced today that defender Zarek Valentin has been called up to the U-23 Men’s National Team Camp by head coach Caleb Porter, who has named a total of 31 players to the roster for the upcoming training camp in Duisburg, Germany from November 7th through the 16th; this camp will be Structured in the same format as U.S. Men’s National Team.
 
Caleb Porter prior to being appointed head coach for the U-23 Men’s National Team was the head coach of the University of Akron men’s soccer team, where he originally coached Valentin and the Zips to an NCAA National Championship. He will, however remain with the university because of prior commitments for this training camp.
 
Chivas USA General Manager, Jose Domene commented on Valentin’s call up: “At Chivas USA we are very proud and happy to continue providing talented players for multiple National Teams around the world (Heath Pearce, Alejandro Moreno, Michael Umaña, Ante Jazic, Simon Elliot, and Andrew Boyens). We are certain that our young defender (Zarek) Valentin will excel with the U-23’s. We wish him the best of luck.”
 
Zarek Valentin – U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team. This is Valentin’s first call up to the U-23; however over his career Zarek has a total of 29 caps for the U20’s MNT.
 
The Lancaster, Pennsylvania native stated, “It’s an honor.  You work really hard, both in MLS and for me with the U-20s, to try to potentially get a look.  Being one of the younger guys in the age group you just want to get a shot.  And now that I got that shot, I have to take it the best I can.  I think I have a pretty good chance.  Obviously I’m familiar with Caleb [Porter, US U-23 National Team and Akron Head Coach] and some of the players there, so I’ll be comfortable; it’s just a matter of trying to play my game.”
 
Clubs from seven different countries are represented in this roster. Twenty of the players called into camp play in Europe, including Josh Gatt, who recently won the Norwegian Championship with Molde. The roster also features eight players who play for MLS teams: David Bingham, Dilly Duka, Sean Johnson, Jon Kempin, Perry Kitchen, Omar Salgado, Zarek Valentin and Ethan White. The roster includes nine former U.S. Soccer Development Academy players: Gale Agbossoumonde, Joe Corona, Sean Cunningham, Conor Doyle, Gatt, Kempin, Caleb Stanko, Zarek Valentin and White.
The team is loaded with players with previous youth national team experience, a total of 22 players having played at either the U-20 or U-17 level. Porter plans to have additional domestic camps early next year as the U-23 Men prepare for 2012 Olympic qualifying beginning in March.
For more information about Zarek Valentin click on the following link:
 
Zarek Valentin Professional Numbers and Stats
 
U.S. UNDER-23 ROSTER BY POSITION Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes; Pleasanton, Calif.), Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town; Athens, Ga.), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire, Lilburn, Ga.), Jon Kempin (Sporting KC; Leawood, Kan.)
DEFENDERS (9) : Gale Agbossoumonde (Eintracht Frankfurt; Syracuse, N.Y.), Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin; Berlin, Germany), Sean Cunningham (Molde; Troy, Mich.), Royal-Dominique Fennell (Stuttgarter Kickers; Göppingen, Germany), Greg Garza (Out of Contract; Grapevine, Texas), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United; Indianapolis, Ind.), Will Packwood (Birmingham City; Concord, Mass.), Zarek Valentin (Chivas USA; Lancaster, Pa.), Ethan White (D.C. United; Kensington, Md.)
MIDFIELDERS (9) : Joe Corona (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Mixx Diskerud (Stabæk; Oslo, Norway), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew; Montville, N.J.), Jared Jeffrey (Mainz; Richardson, Texas), Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United; San Francisco, Calif.), Tyrone McCargo (Nürnberg; Nürnberg, Germany), Charles Renken (Hoffenheim; Edwardsville, Ill.), Caleb Stanko (Freiburg: Holly, Mich.), Jose Villarreal (LA Galaxy; Inglewood, Calif.)
FORWARDS (9) : Terrence Boyd (Hertha Berlin; Berlin, Germany), Conor Doyle (Derby County; McKinney, Texas), Josh Gatt (Molde; Plymouth, Mich.), Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim; Silver Springs, Md.), Jerome Kiesewetter (Hertha Berlin; Berlin, Germany), Omar Salgado (Vancouver Whitecaps; El Paso, Texas), Tony Taylor (Atlético Clube de Portugal; Jacksonville, Fla.), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich; Irvine, Calif.), Andrew Wooten (Kaiserslautern; Worms, Germany)
 
About Chivas USA
Founded in 2004, Los Angeles-based Club Deportivo Chivas USA has achieved remarkable success in six full seasons in Major League Soccer. From 2006-2009, the Mexican-owned club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in four consecutive seasons, to the delight of its passionate supporters. In addition, Chivas USA’s innovative grassroots programs demonstrate its deep commitment to the Southern California community, while the club’s youth teams and Soccer Academies offer unprecedented opportunities to the region’s best young talent. For more information on Chivas USA, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.
 
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